he created the character j.r. ewing, the texas oil man viewers loved to hate. kristen dahlgren has more on his life and his career. >> reporter: it was one of those iconic tv moments and the role that made larry hagman a household name. [ gunshot ] perhaps the biggest cliffhanger of all time. who shot j.r.? as the millionaire j.r. ewing -- couldn't wait for the latest installment from southfork ranch. hagman recently reprised the role of j.r., joining patrick duffy and linda gray as the ewings gathered. >> you are still the prettiest girl at the ball. >> we still have so much fun. don't tell anybody, but it should have been a sitcom. >> reporter: "the dallas morning news" reports duffy and gray were at his side when he passed at a dallas hospital from complications from throat cancer. linda gray said larry hagman was my best friend for 35 years. he was the pied piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. the world was a brighter place because of him. hagman was the son of broadway legend mary martin. he first made it big playing major nelson opposite bar